How to lighten mortar...

11,263 Views | 44 Replies | Last: 3 yr ago by BrazosDog02
Federale01
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So I had a window bricked over. Either something was lost in the translation, or the guy really didn't care, but the mortar he used is more that a couple of shades darker than the original. Any suggestions on how to lighten it without scraping it out and repointing? I am afraid he used a mix with a high cement level because it is already rock hard.

I have read about muriatic acid, any one try it? Any other suggestions?
Cramp00
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One does not simply lighten mortar
Federale01
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Are you saying it can't be done or I shouldn't try it, Mr. Miyagi?
JP76
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Post a picture
Federale01
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Sorry, still trying to figure out how. Long time poster, but never really posted pictures before.
Federale01
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No idea why it is sideways.
dead zip 01
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limewash it.
Federale01
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I just went down to check it again. Where the mortar is drying, it looks like a lighter grey opposed to the dark grey in the picture. But still not as light as the beige/white mortar that's original.
dubi
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That looks really off in color.

I think there should have been a test mix of the mortar.
Federale01
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Yeah, he assured me he would match it as best he could, but after it was done he just said, "it's old mortar so can't really match it." I don't think he tried.
Builder93
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Helium.
dubi
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Federale01 said:

Yeah, he assured me he would match it as best he could, but after it was done he just said, "it's old mortar so can't really match it." I don't think he tried.
He did not try.
MH1096
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Would it be better to stain the original mortar to match the new. It's hard to tell from your pic if there is a transition that would let you get by with that.
Garrelli 5000
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That's pretty F'd up. He was too lazy to buy a $4 bag of sand.
Take the trash out staff.
FortWorthAg
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You can stain it. Pretty simple. Buy at your local hardware store.
Federale01
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Yeah, from the picture it's hard to tell, but basically this is the back wall of the house. There was an Large extension put on to the house but the previous owner left the old kitchen window in place when he did the addition. I am renovating the kitchen, so the old window is being covered by cabinets. Long story short, the rest of the room and the rest of the house has the old mortar color. It would be near impossible to stain the rest darker to match.

It is lightening significantly as it dries, but still darker.

As far as the sand goes, I have made my own mortar blend and repointed my house before. You're right, it's not difficult at all to get it closer than that. The play sand used in sand boxes and easily bought at Home Depot would have been close to perfect. That's why I didn't really think much about it when he said he would match it as best as possible.
aggiemike02
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Builder93 said:

Helium.


This works?
Federale01
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And how would you use it?
Builder93
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aggiemike02 said:

Builder93 said:

Helium.


This works?


Well, helium is lighter.
Sazerac
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They butchered that. Hope you didn't pay full amount
Federale01
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It's looking better as it dries. It's still noticeable, but not as offensive.

I bought some muriatic acid to clean some of the mortar film off the brick. I am going to apply it to the mortar as well and see if that helps.
Sazerac
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What is the time delta on that pic?
It takes a solid 3+ days for mortar to dry out.
Premium
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Paint the bricks and mortar
Federale01
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Same day.
04.arch.ag
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This is interior exposed brick now after an addition?

I would wait a week for it to completely dry out then if it's still darker maybe scrape a little out and repoint or go over it with a lighter premix grout
Sazerac
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Wait it out. It will get much lighter if they did anything to lighten it.
TMoney2007
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Premium said:

Paint the bricks and mortar
I hate painted brick so much...
Premium
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TMoney2007 said:

Premium said:

Paint the bricks and mortar
I hate painted brick so much...


Yep, but I hate the OP brick job worse:


Sazerac
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We have several new construction $1.2M+ homes in our neighborhood where they used red brick then painted it all white. It's dumbfounding.
The Kraken
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That "mason" didn't even try to match the color. All he had to do was use a white mortar mix to get close.
plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose
TMoney2007
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So, instead of fixing one small problem area, they should paint all the brick?

Terrible idea.
Builder93
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You can repoint it. They would grind out the top 1/2" of mortar and the put the white mortar over it.
Mookie
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It looks a video game from the 80s that clearly shows where to hidden item is.
Ted Lasso
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there are matching mortar businesses out there. they get it VERY close to original
Dr. Horrible
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Just German schmear the whole thing
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